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Liverpool striker Alexander Isak says it has been "a while" since he felt at 100 per cent fitness after a frustrating summer and then an injury setback early in his Reds career.
Isak played half an hour off the bench as Sweden lost 4-1 against Switzerland on Tuesday and manager Graham Potter expects him to feature again as the Liverpool man's country takes on Slovenia. The 26-year-old is yet to play for his club since returning from the groin issue he sustained against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.
"It's great to be able to play," Isak said on Tuesday, via Expressen. "I've been away for a few weeks. It's been frustrating, of course. It's never fun to be injured.
"It's probably most frustrating for the player himself, when you feel like you can't be there and have an impact. So it's been frustrating. But I'm trying to be positive. Now I'm healthy.
"I think I should be able to be available for the start [on Tuesday]. Then we'll see what all the other parties think. But it feels good. I feel ready."
Isak was then asked if was an "injury-prone" player. "I don't get into those kinds of discussions," he insisted.
"Injuries are part of the sport. As a player, you do everything you can to avoid them. Sometimes it's inevitable, and it's frustrating. But I don't get into those kinds of discussions. I do what I can to stay injury-free."
Isak was on the bench at the Etihad Stadium a week ago as Liverpool lost to Manchester City, but Arne Slot didn't bring him on. He could feature for the Reds at home to Nottingham Forest next weekend.
"The plan was for Isak to play 30 minutes," Sweden boss Potter said in his post-match press conference (via Sweden Herald).
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"It wasn't an easy position in the game to get into. Hopefully, we'll see more of him on Tuesday. The plan is for him to play more against Slovenia."
"He's had a good week," Potter had said before the Switzerland game. "He's available, but we have to be smart with him because he's been out for a while.
"He's not ready to play two matches for 90 minutes. We have to wait and see until tomorrow."
Liverpool.com says: Isak being back will be a huge boost for the Reds. Hugo Ekitike has been doing well, but having another top option available cannot be a bad thing.
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